A man kidnapped a former co-worker Dec. 18, forced her into the trunk of a car and took her to ATMs to withdraw money. There were six armed robberies and carjackings reported the next day in New Orleans. A gunman even robbed a 25-year-old woman in Gentilly Woods of a ham before Christmas.

Sometimes the bad guys seem to outnumber the good. But they don't. It's not even close. We just need a reminder of all the kind-hearted, dedicated people here who are doing good works every day. New Year's Day seems like a perfect time for that.

Steve Gleason is an inspiration every day. He not only deals with ALS with grace and strength, but he has dedicated himself to making it easier for others to live with the disease.
Team Gleason
, the foundation formed by the former Saints special teams ace, provided more than $1 million in 2016 in technology to give people with ALS the ability to communicate.

"Every sentence I write, word I speak, and speech I give was made possible by the technology Team Gleason provided," Jay Smith said in a release Thursday from Team Gleason on its 2016 accomplishments.

There are dozens of other
everyday heroes
among us. NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune spent the past year telling their stories. Our reporters featured 61 people from across the metro area who are helping to make our community better.

Anna Monhartova co-founded A's & Aces and volunteers more than 40 hours a week to work with students in the program, which combines tennis lessons with homework help and service projects for first- through eighth-graders.

Roots of Music co-founder Derrick Tabb, a drummer for Rebirth Brass Band, is passing on his love of music to New Orleans kids who don't have a music program in their school. He and Allison Reinhart started the program for 9- to 14-year-olds in 2007 when damage from Hurricane Katrina and the levee breaches was still raw.

Students get lessons in music history, theory and performance as well as tutoring and a hot meal five days a week. "If it's fun and I feed a kid, then I can't lose them. They're never going to want to leave. They're going to do good in school because they want to be here, and that's the key," Mr. Tabb said.

Central City resident Al Mims Jr. is dedicated to saving lives. The message on the sign he carries to funerals explains his mission: "No child should be next. Stop the killing." He devotes himself to that cause. He is a vice president at The Fatherhood Roundtable, a mentoring program, and volunteers with Victims & Citizens Against Crime to counsel crime victims. He also speaks against violence at schools and elsewhere.

Jennifer Hale, a sideline reporter for Fox, started a nonprofit with help from former Saints running back Pierre Thomas to connect girls with mentors. Her Sideline Pass organization has provided prom dresses for girls in foster care, college advice and more.

Mandeville resident Paal Liset, a trainer with Louisiana Task Force 1's search and rescue team, volunteers almost every weekend to get dogs ready for emergency work. The dogs are trained to find people who are trapped under rubble in a disaster, which is a key to saving lives. "We train, we're ready, hopefully we never will be used," he said.

Luis Arocha has been executive director of Cafe Hope in Marrero for five years. The nonprofit runs a restaurant and teaches culinary and life skills to at-risk 17- to 24-year-olds. More than 300 students have graduated from the program, getting hired at Commanders Palace, Emeril's Delmonico and other restaurants.

"Just to see a graduate walk back in the door and say 'thank you.' To see them come in, bring a friend and treat them to lunch at Cafe Hope. Or show up for a Valentine's dinner with a girlfriend. Those are the things that you're grateful for," Mr. Arocha said.

Angela Davis is a co-founder of Hagar's House, a shelter for women, children and people in the transgender community who have been in abusive relationships or were homeless. The Rev. Shawn Moses Anglim, pastor of First Grace United Methodist Church, said: Ms. Davis "speaks in a whisper but her life is a 'Roar!' Angela has changed the lives of hundreds of women and children, one person at a time, created a ministry and institution on the bedrock of justice, compassion and community."

Everyone can't dedicate that much time and energy to helping others. But we all have talents we could share. We can all do something to enrich our neighborhoods or bring comfort to someone in need.